City of West Chicago, Illinois

Where History and Progress Meet

Make A Payment
Skip NavigationMenu
  • How Do I…
    • Make an Online Payment
    • Find Public Parking
    • Apply for a Building Permit
    • Apply for a Job
    • View Forms & Applications
    • Submit A FOIA
    • View GIS Maps
    • Close
  • News & Updates
    • City News
      • Recent News
      • News Archive
      • Close
    • Stay Updated
      • Digital Newsletter
      • Social Media
      • Close
    • Project Updates
      • Lead Service Line Replacement Project
      • 2025 Capital Improvement Project
      • Close
    • Traffic Impacts
      • Neltnor Boulevard (IL-59) from North Avenue (IL-64) to Batavia Road
      • Roosevelt Road (IL-38) from Technology Boulevard to Pierce Avenue
      • Cornerstone Lakes & Forest Trails Neighborhoods
      • Close
    • Community Bulletin
    • At Home with Merle Burleigh Weekly Blog
    • Press & Media Requests
    • Close
  • Utilities & Services
    • Utilities
      • Water & Sewer
        • Pay Online
        • Additional Payment Options
        • Billing Details
        • Sprinkler Meters
        • Close
      • Garbage & Recycling
        • Billing Details
        • Pickup Schedule
        • Yard Waste Collection
        • Bulk Item Collection
        • Electronic Recycling
        • Close
      • Close
    • Building Permits
      • Residential Building Permits
      • Commercial Building Permits
      • Contractor Registration
      • Building Codes & Ordinances
      • Close
    • Community Programs
      • Seasonal Programs
        • Brush Collection Program
        • Bulk Item Collection Event
        • Free Leaf Collection Program
        • Summer Lawn Sprinkler Restriction Program
        • Rain Barrel Program
        • Close
      • Property Protection Programs
        • Vacation Watch Program
        • Key Box Program
        • Smoke Detector Assistance Program
        • Address Sign Program
        • Bicycle Registration Program
        • Close
      • Community Education Programs
        • Citizens Police Academy Program
        • Neighborhood Watch Program
        • Cadet Program
        • CERT Program
        • Close
      • Close
    • Business Assistance
      • Existing Businesses
        • Assistance & Support
        • Business Registration Renewal
        • Specialty Business Licenses
        • Close
      • New Businesses
        • Steps to Opening a New Business
        • Operating A Business From Your Home
        • Close
      • Incentives & Programs
        • Downtown Retail and Restaurant Grant Program
        • Close
      • Economic Development Portal
      • Downtown Investment Program
      • Close
    • Senior Services
      • Senior Transportation
      • In-Home Meal Delivery
      • Well-Being Checks
      • Yard Clean-Up
      • Minor Home Repairs
      • Pet Food & Assistance
      • Friendly Visit & Assistance
      • Close
    • Online Citizen Police Reporting
    • Property Transactions
      • Property Sales
      • Property Purchases
      • Property Title Changes
      • Close
    • Forms & Applications
      • Rental Property License Application
      • Rental Property License Renewal
      • Other
      • Close
    • Snow Removal
    • Animal Control
    • Cemetery Management
    • Close
  • Art & Culture
    • Community Profile
    • History of West Chicago
    • Things To Do
      • Family Activities & Destinations
      • West Chicago Prairie
      • West Chicago City Museum
      • Gallery 200
      • Walking & Biking Trails
      • Close
    • Special Events
      • Blooming Fest
      • Food Festival
      • Halloween Festivities
      • Frosty Fest
      • Close
    • Community Initiatives
      • Art Banner Exhibit
      • WeGo Loteria
      • WeGo Exploring
      • Veterans’ Day Display
      • Past Initiatives
        • Olmec Trails (2024)
        • Year of the Alebrijes (2022)
        • Close
      • Close
    • Public Parking
      • Parking Permits
      • Parking Locations
      • Overnight Parking Requests
      • Close
    • Community Partners
      • West Chicago Public Library
      • West Chicago Park District
      • DuPage County Forest Preserve
      • West Chicago Fire Protection District
      • Close
    • Close
  • Government
    • Elected Officials
      • Form of Government
      • Mayor Daniel Bovey
      • City Council
      • Standing Committees
      • Coffee with the Mayor
      • Elections & Voting
      • Close
    • Boards & Commissions
      • Boards & Commissions
      • Board & Commission Application
      • Close
    • Agendas & Minutes
      • Agendas & Minutes
      • City Council Video Recordings
      • Public Participation
      • Public Meeting Schedule
      • Close
    • City Departments
      • Administration
      • Business & Community Relations
      • Community Development
        • Building Permits
        • Code Enforcement
        • Administrative Adjudication
        • Residential Rental Licensing
        • Planning & Zoning Documents
          • Comprehensive Plan
          • Strategic Plan
          • Central-Main Street Redevelopment Plan
          • Close
        • Close
      • Finance
      • Police
        • Online Police Report
        • Request Accident Report
        • Vacation Watch Program
        • Close
      • Public Works
        • Bid Postings & Results
        • Capital Improvement Projects
        • Construction Standards
        • Water Quality Reports
        • Close
      • Organizational Chart
      • Close
    • Transparency
      • Transparency Portal
      • FOIA Request
      • Close
    • Municipal Code
    • ADA Compliance
    • Forms and Applications
    • Close

Opening a New Business

The City of West Chicago is ready to assist you in every aspect of opening a new business in our City. This guide provides an overview of the 6 easy steps to opening your doors and the resources available to help you succeed.

Step 1: Contact Us

We are committed to helping you and your business succeed. City staff offers individualized services tailored to your unique needs. By tapping into a range of useful resources and business development partners, we can help you to consider your target customers, location requirements, financial needs and marketing strategies, and help you navigate the permitting process.

Step 2: Site Location & Zoning

Choosing the right location can mean the difference between success and failure. We can help you identify an appropriate location. Knowing how a site is zoned is essential. Zoning classifications are the local laws that define how private property can be used. They govern the types of uses that are allowed in business corridors and specify parking and signage allowances and restrictions. The City will help you understand all applicable regulations before you begin seeking permits or licenses, sign a lease or install a sign.

Step 3: Apply

To begin the application process online, you must use Chrome or Firefox as your internet browser. Simply complete and submit the Certificate of Occupancy Application and the Water Usage Survey. Once the forms have been reviewed, City staff will contact the property owner and you to schedule an inspection (provided no permitting work is expected). Building and Fire District staff will inspect your space or building to ensure it meets code. Re-inspections may be needed until you are approved for occupancy and can begin moving in. Obtaining the Certificate of Occupancy (Step 6) is required before opening.

Step 4: Permitting

A permit is required if you add or modify your building or structure, but please call us to help you to determine if your project requires a permit. To ensure the most timely and cost-effective process possible, we recommend that you:

+    Hire a professional, state-licensed architect to prepare your plans.

+   Make sure your professional contractor is registered, insured and has the appropriate experience to fully manage your project.

We offer a free, preliminary needs assessment of prospective locations to all businesses entering or expanding in West Chicago. During this inspection, City staff will assess improvements that may be required. While not intended to be an official inspection of the work required, a review will be included of walkways and stairs, HVAC equipment, electrical, plumbing, windows, doors, all means of egress including aisles, stairs, exit doors ramps and accessibility, fire safety and public health safety for food establishments. Once your permit application—including your architectural drawings—is received, a Plans Examiner will review your drawings and provide a written response detailing any corrections that need to be addressed. Once all necessary corrections have been resubmitted and approved, we will issue your permit.

For larger projects, a City representative is available to meet with your architect and contractor to review the project before you submit permit applications and plans.

Step 5: Inspections

Your permitted project may require a number of professional inspections, such as plumbing, electrical, fire suppression, etc. Be sure you and/or your contractor understand all inspections needed for your project and obtains approvals accordingly.

Step 6: Certificate of Occupancy (CO)

Once you have passed all final inspections and paid the Business Registration and inspection fees, the City will provide a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) verifying that all requirements needed to open have been met.

 

 

FOLLOW US

Visit Facebook Visit Twitter Visit Instagram Visit LinkedIn Visit Youtube

ONLINE PAYMENTS

e-Pay logo and link
DACRA Logo

DEPARTMENTS

City Administration: Contact
Business & Community Relations:  Contact
Community Development:  Contact
Finance:  Contact
Police:  Contact
Public Works:  Contact

INTERNAL LINKS

Office 365 Email Login
GIS Maps

CONTACT US

West Chicago City Hall
475 Main Street
West Chicago, IL 60185

Phone: 630.293.2200
FAX: 630.293.3028

HOURS

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday
8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday
8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Copyright 2025 © - City of West Chicago, Illinois - All rights reserved - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy - Legal Disclaimer